April 5, 2002
Box Score
WACO, Texas - No. 17 Baylor scored seven runs in the first inning Friday night but was unable to hold the lead and lost to No. 19 Oklahoma State at Baylor Ballpark, 11-10.
The Bears (21-12, 9-7 Big 12) scored the seven runs off OSU starter Nick McCurdy, but the Cowboys (22-7, 7-3 Big 12) responded with 11 unanswered runs against starter Steven White and reliever Trey Taylor (0-3).
In the first, Baylor loaded the bases with nobody out on a hit batsman, a single, and an error by the OSU shortstop. Back-to-back-to-back singles by Mike Huggins, Michael Griffin and Tim Hartshorn gave Baylor a 3-0 lead. A sacrifice fly by Trey Webb accounted for the Bears' first out, but David Murphy followed with yet another single to put the home team on top 5-0. McCurdy hit Eric Errante with a pitch, and Ross Bennett drove in two more runs with a double to left field for runs number six and seven.
That seven-run margin did not even last through the next inning. White walked the first two men he faced in the second, then gave up a two-RBI double to shortstop Rob Watson.
The Cowboys added a single run in the third, then put up a four-spot in the fifth to tie the game. Three straight singles loaded the bases with nobody out, and third baseman Paul Powell hooked a shot down the left field line for a game-tying grand slam.
Taylor came in to start the sixth inning on the mound and pitched a scoreless first frame, but a one-out error in the seventh was followed by a double, a triple and another double as OSU plated four more runs and took an 11-7 lead.
McCurdy, meanwhile, had settled down and didn't allow another run before leaving in the fourth. Justin Meccage (1-0) relieved McCurdy and shut down the Bears down until the eighth, when he tired and walked the first two men he faced. John Forrest came in to pitch for the Cowboys and promptly gave up a two-RBI double to Paul Richmond. Chris Durbin singled in Richmond to cut the lead to 11-10, but a line-out to second let OSU double off Durbin and first to end the threat.
Paul Thorp pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for the Bears, and Forrest got the first two outs in the bottom of the inning quickly and easily. Forrest failed to field a grounder back up the middle, letting Paul Witt reach base and giving the Bears hope. Pinch-hitter Jared Clements singled to left on the first pitch he saw, moving the tying run into scoring position. Mike Patitucci relieved Forrest and struck out Richmond for the final out to record his first save of the year.
Richmond finished the night 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Bennett, Huggins and Griffin each recorded two hits, Bennett scored twice and drove in a pair. Eight of the Bears' nine starters drove in at least one run.
Baylor and Oklahoma State square off again Saturday at 2 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be aired live on Fox Sports Southwest. The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m.
